Gout Gout: The Future of Sprinting?

At just 17 years old, Australian sprinter Gout Gout has captivated the athletics world with his blistering speed. Olympic 200-meter champion Letsile Tebogo believes the young talent has the potential to become one of the greatest athletes in history.

Gout’s remarkable performances in recent months have drawn comparisons to legends like Usain Bolt. Bolt himself once said that Gout “looks like young me,” and now Tebogo has echoed similar praise. Speaking ahead of the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne, Tebogo described Gout’s running style as “top-notch” and predicted he would be the next big thing for the sport.

Gout burst onto the scene in 2022, clocking 10.57 seconds in the 100m as a 14-year-old. The following year, he stunned the world by running 20.60 seconds in the 200m at the World Athletics U20 Championships—0.01 seconds faster than Bolt’s time at the same age in 2002. His progress has only accelerated in 2024, setting a world-leading 200m time of 20.05 seconds earlier this month, narrowly missing his own Australian record set in December.

His dominance continued at the Queensland State Championships, where he became the first Australian to break the 20-second barrier, running 19.98 seconds in the U20 200m final. However, the wind-assisted time (+3.6m/s) means it will not stand as an official record. Despite this, his rapid progression has made him one of the most exciting young sprinters in the world.

Gout is set to race again in Melbourne this week, facing Australia’s fastest man, Lachie Kennedy. However, he will not go head-to-head with Tebogo, who will compete in the 400m event instead.

Tebogo believes Gout has the potential to make history, but he also urges caution. He advises Gout’s team to introduce him gradually to senior-level competition, emphasizing the importance of patience in an athlete’s development. “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” Tebogo said, recalling advice he received as a young sprinter. “Just introduce him slowly to the seniors … because with the seniors, we are all hungry to get the money, the medals, and everything.”

As Gout continues to break barriers, the question remains: Will he fulfill his immense potential and cement his place among the greatest sprinters of all time?

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